• Guest, Help The DPF Community Thrive - Join Our Donation Drive Today!

    We're launching a special DPF Donation Drive to ensure our beloved forum continues to flourish. Your support is vital in helping us cover essential server costs and keep our community running smoothly — This is more than just a donation; it's an investment in the future of our community.

    Join us in this crucial drive and let's ensure our forum remains a vibrant and dynamic place for everyone.

    Please visit the DPF Donation Drive Thread for details and instructions on how you can make your donation today!

Trading and touring

Trading and touring
R

Rick195275

DPF Nut
Rating - 100%
33   0   0
Messages
387
Location
U.S.A.
Curious how all of you out there balance your trading along with touring the parks? Our first trip we hadn’t really discovered pin trading and just bought a couple we liked right before we left. Last trip was an extended trip so we had plenty of time to cover most things and still do plenty of trading. Have a short trip coming up in December that’s also our first holiday trip! Looking to balance things out... hopefully without over doing it. Sorry if I’m in the wrong place feel free to move the thread to the appropriate place!!
 
It depends on how much time I have. If we go for 10 days, we usually do 7 days in the park and 3 days resting/pool/shopping/pin trading. Even if I only go for three days, on day of arrival I try to be checking in by 12 noon and maybe hit Disney Springs or do the monorail loop that afternoon. Same thing on departure day - have a late flight and spend the morning pin trading.

During my trip, If the parks end up being super busy, I don't worry about hitting a lot of rides and concentrate on playing Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom and pin trading.
 
I always just trade with the people I see along the way to my next ride or restaurant and also stop in a couple stores and ask to see the pin board they usually have behind the counter. I usually avoid trading at the frong of the parks or in the shops of popular rides because those are high-traffic areas and that's where you'll find the most fakes. Once you're actually there, the balance comes pretty naturally.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
And also before and after days in the parks I hit up the boards in the hotel(there's usually one at the gift shop and one in the lobby or behind the front desk).

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
This was actually our last trip we were there during spring break week leading up to Easter. We did a lot of pin trading and sorcerers it was very different but gave me such an appreciation for all the different things disney has to offer. We will only have 3 days this next trip so not planning a rest day.
 
I think @starry_solo and @akarih basically summed up my approach as well. I don't do any trading with non-cast members and really only stop to check cast member's lanyards on my way to attractions, characters, snacks, and waiting for the parade and/or fireworks to start.

If we are at a merch location, which is often since the family loves Disney merch, I usually check lanyards and boards. I never really go out of my way to trade, which is probably why I'm not as successful finding all of the new HMs as others who make it a priority, but I eventually get what I need if it isn't complete sets of everything.
 
I think most people also summed up my approach. In the parks I'll try to hit the shops and ask any Cast Member I see with a lanyard for a look. I also hit all the hotel boards twice a day (once in the morning when we go for breakfast, and then a second in the evening when heading back to the room), or more depending on how often I'm there. Sometimes it is more than twice a day. I'm also going for a short trip in December but we are mostly avoiding the parks and doing more pin trading and hotel touring than anything else.
 
Same as others - CMs and boards as opportunity provides while walking around. But don't spend time trying to trade with other guests, etc. I'm there for vacation fun!
 
If you like, there are guides posted online of some of the daily trading events Disney has started doing in the Magic Kingdom. The one I know best is Fantasy Faire giftshop at 4PM. They're fun and usually worth stopping by for some good mystery set pins or HMs. It's usually just a line of CMs with nicer pins and stricter limits about trading so everyone gets a chance to take a decent pin. Traders will line up for these and you could possibly trade with them in line. They only last about 20 min if I remember correctly so be punctual.
 
Nice thanks for that tip I’ll have to look up when they run these!
 
At my home park, my day is pretty much: walk, walk, ooh shiny! *goes to look at lanyard or board* I've also been hitting up the areas for guest trading whenever I have time.

When I'm at my vacay park, I'm more focused on vacay plans but will stop when I spot a lanyard if it doesn't mess up my schedule. lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register